Combination furniture



May 9, 1944. F, HART l 2,348,472

COMBINATON FURNITURE Filed Oct. 3l, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l' Afomey May 9,1944. 'N` HART v i l 2,348,472

COMBINATION FURNITURE Paiente'd May 9, 1944 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICECOMBINATION FURNITURE Nimrod Franklin Hart, Portsmouth, Va. Applicationoctober '31, 1941, serial No. 417,398 1 claim. (ci. :u2-s3) e Thepresent invention relates generally'to new and useful improvements infurniture, and has for its primary object to provide, in a single de-kvice, a unique combination and arrangement of altar, reading table andbook cabinet.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a piece ofcombination furniture of the aforementioned character comprising aplurality of folding ykneeling stools of novel construction. y

Other objects of the invention are to provide a piece of combinationfurniture ofthe charac.

ter described which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, highly efllcient and reliable in use, compact, light inweight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at lowcost.

All lof the foregoing` and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the device, showing one of thefront stools in operative position.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is a verticalsectional view, taken lsubstantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 withone of the side stools in operative position.

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing all of the stools in open oroperative position. v Referring now to the drawings in detail, it willbe seen that the embodimentof the' invention which has been illustratedcomprises a cabinet structure of suitable material and dimensions whichis' designated generally by reference nu- Afbackboard i! is secured onthe front of the upper portions 'I of the back legs 2. Pairs of hingeddoors I l on the front of the cabinet I provide access thereto.

stools I4 are similar in construction and operthe form of a plank ofsuitable material having.

rial, preferably green felt.

The platform I| is spaced inwardly from the front and sides of thecabinet I. In this manner arm supportingvsurfaces or rests I3 areprovided in front of and at the sides of the platform I2. These armrests, also the platform I2, are provided with a suitable covering mate-Hingedly mounted on the lower portion of the cabinet I is a plurality offolding kneeling stools Il. In the embodiment shown, four such stoolshave been illustrated, tiwo on the front and one on each side of thecabinet I. As the kneeling ation, a detailed description of one willsuffice for all.

Each stool Il includes an elongated base I5 in one edge pivotallysecured at I8 to the lower portion of the cabinet structure I. Thus, thebase I5 is Vmounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane. A cushion|'I is provided on top of the base I5.. .Secured beneath the base I5 arelongitudinally spaced intermediate and outer plates |8 and I9,respectively. Hingedly mounted at 20 on the inner end portions of theplates is secured at an intermediate point on the plate I8 and hingedlymounted on said cleat is a pair of braces 23 which are also in the formof panels. Pulls in` the form of loops 24 are mounted for swinging.movement on the legs 2|. Projecting from the free end portions of thebraces 23 arey pegs or lugs 25.

The construction and arrangement is such that the stools I4 are adaptedto be folded and swung upwardly on their pivots` I8 into the lowerportion of the cabinet structure I beneath the bottom 5 thereof. Whenthe stools are in folded or inoperative position. the legs 2| are foldedagainst the plates I8 and the braces 23 are folded against the platesI8. V,Of course, when the stools are to be used, theyare swungdownwardly on their pivots I8. The legs 2| are swung to open position ontheir hinges 20. When thelegs 2| reach a position at right angles tothe-'plates I9 they are arrested or prevented from swinging past thisposition by the engagement of the hinged end portions thereof with theinner ends of the plates i9. This is shown to advantage in Figure l ofthe drawings. The braces 23 are then open i and the loops 2| are engagedover the lugs 25 for detachably vsecuring said braces to the legs. 2

Mounted on the top 5 of the cabinetl is a platform providing a readingtable. 'I'his It is believed that the many advantages of a combinationdevicel constructed in accordance platform comprises a forwardly slopingtop I2. Il with the present invention will be readily unof said deviceis as illustrated and described, .it is to be understood that changes inthe details of construction may be resorted to which will iall withinthe scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

An article of furniture comprising a cabinet structure, and a foldingstool` mounted on the lower portion of said cabinet structure andadapted to swing thereinto, said stool including a base e 2,348,47a' 'derstood, and although a preferred embodimentwi/,y-fportlons of the outerplates for supporting the stoof inoperative position. the hinged endportions of said legs being engageable with the inner ends oi' saidouter plates for positively limiting the swinging movement of said legstoward operative position, acleat mounted on the inter mediate plates,braces hingedly mounted on said cleat, lugs projecting from the braces,and loops pivotally secured to the cabinet structure for I swingingmovement in a vertical plane, a cushion on one side of the base, spacedintermediate and.

outer plates secured on the opposite side of said Y base, legs hingedlymounted on the inner end on the legs engageable with the lugs forreleasably securing said legs in operative position, said legs andbraces comprising panels adapted for side abutting engagement with theplates when the stool is in inoperative position;

NIMRD FRANKLIN HART.

